Salt: Nature's Ultimate Mood-Booster?

Salt might do much more than make food taste better. New research suggests that it may make you happier, too. Should you be a little more heavy-handed with the salt-shaker?

University of Iowa researchers say salt may be a natural anti-depressant. Their tests on animals found that those with a salt deficiency shunned activities they normally enjoyed--a major sign of depression. In fact, researchers speculate the natural lift we get from the salt is why most people eat too much of it. You need 2 grams of the mineral per day to function, but most people consume about 10 grams.

But don't get salt-happy just yet. Experts know that excessive amounts of salt can lead to high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. So what's a gal to do? Stay away from packaged, sodium-packed foods--the amount of salt you get from your normal cooking is more than enough to keep you healthy and happy.